What Does Jeremiah 44:17 Mean in the King James?
But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
They turn remembered abundance into a verdict, treating yesterday’s comfort as permission to keep giving their allegiance.
THE MEANING
This verse shows remembered comfort becoming a present warrant: the speakers say they will continue because they remember bread, well-being, and no visible calamity. Their claim turns outcome into evidence and evidence into loyalty. “We saw no evil” names what entered their sight, not everything that may be true.
THE ROOT
הַדָּבָר
hadavar
GROWS FROM
דבר
d-b-r
speak; word, matter, or thing
The Hebrew word דָּבָר (davar, word or matter) names both what is spoken and the “thing” they will perform. Their speech is already framed as an act waiting to be carried out.
ALSO GROWS
dibbēr: spoke
דִּבֵּר
The spoken word belongs to the same root family as the matter they commit to do.
devarim: words, matters
דְּבָרִים
This form keeps utterances and matters joined in one word family.
יָצָא
yāṣāʾ
GROWS FROM
יצא
y-ṣ-ʾ
go out, come forth
“goeth forth” in this verse is yāṣāʾ. Their choice is pictured as something that goes out from the mouth. That wording makes the commitment feel self-originating: they bind themselves to what they themselves have uttered.
ALSO GROWS
yetsi'ah: going out, departure
יְצִיאָה
It preserves the movement in the verse: their resolve departs from their mouth.
motsa: outlet, exit, source
מוֹצָא
This form echoes their claim that the choice begins in what comes out from them.
רָאִינוּ
ra'inu
GROWS FROM
ראה
r-ʾ-h
see, look, perceive
The speakers report that they saw no calamity; their claim stays within the boundary of perception. Visible comfort becomes their measure for judging what happened.
ALSO GROWS
ro'eh: one who sees; seer
רֹאֶה
This form keeps attention on the perceiver and the limits of what is seen.
mar'eh: appearance; what is seen
מַרְאֶה
It highlights how an appearance of well-being can stand in for a broader judgment.
THE PATTERN
Observed prosperity can become proof that a chosen explanation of security is true.
And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.THE THREAD
If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.Both verses use יצא (yatsa, go out) for what proceeds from a mouth, then link that utterance to action. Numbers makes the binding force explicit; Jeremiah’s speakers use the same sequence to present their chosen practice as something already pledged by their words.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us